Views from a United Church of Christ Minister

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Oregon Ballot Measure 62 - One Christian View Against

OPB's program "Think Out Loud" is focusing today on Measure 62, a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would allocate 15% of lottery funds to public safety for crime prevention, investigation and prosecution.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) is urging a "NO" vote on this proposal. I serve as a member of EMO's public policy committee. Here's why we recommend a no vote:

By dedicating 15% of lottery funding to crime program - despite recent funding increases for state police- this measure would significantly reduce funding available for education, economic development and natural resource programs. This is a shell game that creates no new revenue for badly underfunded programs, but simply writes into the state constitution a permanent preference for funding for law enforcement over funding for education, economic development and environmental protection.

Measure 62 is bad public policy that would have a long-term negative effective on Oregon's future.

Comments

Oregon Ballot Measure 62 - One Christian View Against

OPB's program "Think Out Loud" is focusing today on Measure 62, a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would allocate 15% of lottery funds to public safety for crime prevention, investigation and prosecution.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) is urging a "NO" vote on this proposal. I serve as a member of EMO's public policy committee. Here's why we recommend a no vote:

By dedicating 15% of lottery funding to crime program - despite recent funding increases for state police- this measure would significantly reduce funding available for education, economic development and natural resource programs. This is a shell game that creates no new revenue for badly underfunded programs, but simply writes into the state constitution a permanent preference for funding for law enforcement over funding for education, economic development and environmental protection.

Measure 62 is bad public policy that would have a long-term negative effective on Oregon's future.

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Views expressed here represent the perspectives of Rev. Currie, as well as reader participants, and may not represent the views of Pacific University, the United Church of Christ’s national offices in Cleveland or any local UCC congregation. External links made from this site should not construe an endorsement. Rev. Currie has no more editorial control over such content than does a public library, bookstore, or newsstand. Such external links are made for informational purposes only.